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Good news for coffee drinkers! A recent study showed that coffee drinking can help to prevent certain types of liver cancer, which is the sixth most common type of cancer and affects more than 30,000 people annually in the United States alone, and over 700,000 people worldwide.

Following an analysis of 14 different research studies, it was reported in the Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology journal that those who drink coffee regularly had a lower risk of developing liver cancer—a 40-50% lower chance, which is highly significant.

It is known that coffee contains many antioxidants and bioactive compounds which help to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Not only does coffee help to prevent liver cancer, but it is also found that drinking a small amount of coffee each day can have beneficial effects on your heart, and a moderate amount of caffeine will not increase the risk of developing heart disease.

And, the surprises don’t stop there. More evidence to support coffee drinkers comes in the form of a study that showed coffee drinkers were less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, as well. Those who had moderate coffee intake, defined as a maximum of 3 cups of coffee per day, were found to have about a 25% lower chance of ultimately being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, according to another recent study.

Says Dr. Carl Lavie of the Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention Center in New Orleans, one of the authors of the study, "Coffee has a lot of good features. Previous research has shown that it's beneficial for dementia, depression, stroke risk, and even asthma.” Studies show that three or four cups are most beneficial, but even those who limit their coffee intake to about two cups per day will experience the health benefits, with about a 7-8% increase in benefits noted per cup that you drink daily (up to 3-4 cups).

Researchers are finding that coffee has the polyphenols and antioxidants that fight free radicals, making it difficult for cancer cells to take hold. Also, chlorogenic acid (CGA), which helps moderate how glucose is absorbed, can help with managing the need for insulin and help prevent insulin resistance, which is what often leads to Type 2 diabetes.

Coffee is found to also help with inflammatory processes, as it provides some of the same benefits that are often correlated with certain types of dark chocolate and some red wines. Another researcher, Dr. Siamak Bidel of the University of Helsinki states, “Coffee consumption may also mediate levels of gut peptides, have prebiotic-like properties, altering gut flora, and ultimately digestion,” all things that help contribute to an overall healthier system.

Bidel found that coffee certainly helps in a significant way when trying to prevent Type 2 diabetes. He notes that there have been multiple studies that show coffee is not related to the development of heart disease or gastrointestinal cancers, as once suspected. Combining coffee consumption at a moderate level with an overall healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the development of certain cancers as well as Type 2 diabetes.

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